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with the summer upon us, i can't help but see the parallels between the weed problem that plagues those of us with lawns and the spam problem. i keep trying new solutions, from pulling them out to spraying them with a variety of weed killers, but they keep coming back. like spam, weeds are just impossible to escape.

there is no magic bullet, but i am hopeful that we can reduce the amount of unsolicited e-mail through a combination of legislation, better software, and changes in behavior. congress is currently debating several bills, with can-spam (s 877) in the senate and rid spam (h.r. 2214) in the house having the most support.

both bills call for e-mail mass-marketers to label their messages as marketing, use valid return addresses, and enable consumers to opt out of additional messages by taking their names off mailing lists. the house version would let state and federal officials and isps sue spammers, while the senate version would impose fines for sending unsolicited e-mail to people who have opted out. other bills call for the federal trade commission to set up a do not spam list, similar to its do not call list, or for rewarding people who report spammers to the ftc.

meanwhile, many states have passed or are considering antispam legislation, and political debates over the spam epidemic have broken out. some antispam proponents want to restrict companies to sending mail only to customers who have opted in to their mailing lists or to customers with whom they already have a relationship. other issues under discussion: can class-action suits be brought against spammers? can isps or only the government sue spammers?

i understand those who want more restrictions, but i also understand why the big isps want to be protected against legal liability. the opt-in approach sounds great in theory, but legislating it is difficult. many people don't even realize when they've opted in, which could prompt them to threaten legal action. i would like to see a national do not spam list and a requirement that commercial e-mail be labeled as such. i'd also like messages to indicate whether i have a previous relationship with the company sending me e-mail.

the most important step now is to pass legislation on the federal level. next, we need to push for international agreements that codify similar rules around the world. but let's not kid ourselves. even laws won't stop the worst offenders. spammers will just evade the laws or move offshore.

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another tactic is to use software to manage spam. the good news is that antispam programs are getting better. pc magazine labs has tested some of the server-based antispam products, and we recently changed what we use in the office. as a result, many of us on staff have reduced spam in our in-boxes by up to 90 percent, with few false positives. the client-based antispam productssome filter and some let you set up whitelists of approved sendersare also getting better. i prefer the former type, since i often get e-mail from readers and companies who would never have been on my whitelist.

the best solution for now is good behavior. some things to keep in mind: don't post your e-mail address in a public forum, chat room, or web page. give out your e-mail address only to companies and people you trust. read the privacy policies of web sites you visit. opt out of mailing lists. i also like the idea of using disposable e-mail addresses when you're sending e-mail to parties you don't trust.

some folks would go even further, requiring senders to pay recipients a small fee for the privilege of sending e-mail. this would be difficult from a practical standpoint. instead, i think a combination of smart legislation, better software, and changes in behavior will help. these steps won't eliminate spam any more than you can rid your lawn of weeds forever. but by reducing spam, you can make your e-mail garden a happier place.

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